Choosing the Right Hearing Aid

Today’s hearing aids are available in a wide variety of styles, sizes and shapes. They may be worn in the ear canal, the bowl-shaped portion (concha) of the ear, or behind the ear. Digital technology has led to an impressive assortment of features and options that help improve the listening experience.

All these choices give the consumer plenty of options, but can also feel overwhelming.

There are many different factors to consider when choosing the right hearing aid. You’ll need to consider the type and frequency of your hearing loss, the anatomy of your ears, your lifestyle needs, cosmetic preference and budget.

Tips for Choosing a Hearing Aid

While choosing the right hearing aid can feel daunting, by following a few tips you should be able to narrow down your choices and make a decision more easily. When choosing hearing aids, it will be helpful to adhere to these suggestions:

Act sooner rather than later. On average, it takes a person seven years to purchase hearing aids after developing hearing loss. In that time, their hearing has only gotten worse. The sooner you commit to wearing hearing aids, the more successful your outcome will be.

Schedule a hearing exam. You won’t be able to select a proper set of hearing aids if you’re doing so because other people appear to mumble when they speak. A full hearing evaluation is necessary in order to determine the type and severity of your hearing loss and which frequencies are affected. Your audiologist can then recommend hearing aids that address these specific issues.

Enlist the aid of an audiologist. You might find a good deal on hearing aids online or through a big box retail store, but purchasing without the assistance of an experienced hearing professional can cause more harm than good. An audiologist is able to determine your type of hearing loss and will help you select a device that will be beneficial to your needs. In addition, you’ll receive the follow-up care necessary to ensure your hearing aids are working to the best of their capabilities. “Doing it yourself” could result in your overlooking a serious medical problem that is causing your hearing loss.

Try before you buy. Before committing to a purchase, your audiologist will let you try out your hearing aids. It’s important to give them a “test ride” to learn how they work and to experience for yourself the difference they make.

Decide on features, options and accessories. Hearing aids come with many different features and options; some will be beneficial, while others you probably won’t care about. For instance, if you rarely surf the web or listen to music, Bluetooth compatibility – while a great feature – will be of little use to you. On the other hand, if you are exposed to many different listening environments, automatic programming will save you a lot of time and trouble. Figure out what is important to you (and fits within your budget), and base your decision on that.

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Hearing Survey

Please answer the question below to the best of your ability. After you choose your answer, the next question will appear. At the end of the survey, you will be provided with a score, and you may send this score to us so we may discuss any hearing loss issues you are having.

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Are there situations in which you find it difficult to hear clearly?

Do you have to strain to understand conversations?

Do you have a problem hearing over the telephone?

Do you have trouble following a conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time?

Do you have trouble hearing conversations in a noisy background such as a restaurant or a group gathering?

Do you have dizziness, pain, or ringing in your ears?

Do family members or coworkers remark about you missing what has been said?

Do people complain that you turn the TV volume up too high?

Do you find it hard to hear someone when they talk in a soft voice or whisper?

Do you find understanding women and children particularly challenging?

You are not experiencing common signs of hearing loss. However, if you suspect you may have hearing loss or are experiencing other symptoms not listed here, please contact our office for a consultation.

It appears you may be experiencing signs of a hearing loss. A hearing test can help detect early signs. We recommend contacting our office to schedule a hearing test.

Your responses indicate that you are experiencing common signs of a hearing loss. We recommend that you contact us to set up an appointment for a hearing test.

You are experiencing many signs of a hearing loss. It is highly recommended that you contact our office today for an appointment to meet with a hearing professional.

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